Neto Borges is like a new signing at Middlesbrough this season

What a transformation! It didn’t go as hoped against Cardiff, but some of the Middlesbrough players are already performing better than they during the previous season’s narrow failure to win promotion.

Arguably none have done better than Neto Borges, who must have been wondering last May where his career might take him next.

A season long loan at Bristol City was only partially successful. The Robins clearly showed no inclination to sign him on the dotted line.

So Neto came back to the Boro. Most of us might have expected Boro to accept any reasonable bid from an interested suitor, or for the defender to go out on loan again.

Yet the decision not to try to keep Matt Targett and the fact that filling certain positions was a slow process, meant that Borges started the season in the team.

Wow. Rarely has a player made a greater attempt to prove himself again. His form is akin to Boro signing a new left-back. Borges is certainly the season’s most improved player so far – and did particularly well as a wing-back at Stoke.

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He was very unlucky to be credited with an own goal was all he was trying to do was to get his body behind an opposition cross, while he more than made amends by popping up with that glorious late winner.

Against Cardiff, Borges switched to being an orthodox left-back, yet still managed to get forward on several occasions. He could easily have scored at least one goal from two half-decent chances in the opening 20 minutes.

Neto’s form is particularly impressive considering that Boro have invested heavily in the transfer market this summer and the competition for places is hotter than ever.

It’s an indication to all the members of the squad that they can establish themselves if they work hard on the training pitch and prove themselves good enough as footballers.

At the other end of the scale we have loanee Connor Barron still looking for his first taste of Championship football.

His lack of action continues to spark negative stories in the Scottish Press amid claims that Rangers should immediately take steps to take him back to Ibrox.

Yet Neto’s successful stint emits a clear message to Connor and all other members of the squad that if you do the business off the pitch then you will get on it.